Chapter 5 Quantitative findings and analysis
5.3. Quantitative findings and analysis for the main study
5.3.2. Adoption and usage of cloud computing
5.3.2.4. Users of cloud computing
The following section discusses the adoption levels of cloud computing services by users. The figure below represents the adoption levels of cloud computing by users.
Figure 5.6: Adoption levels of cloud computing services.
4.00 4.25
3.92 4.08
3.67
1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00
Awareness Implementation Complexities Risks Qualified IT personnel
Average score
Average agreement score Neutral score
83.3
30.0 36.7 40.0
16.7
70.0
63.3 60.0
.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0
SaaS laaS PaaS XaaS
Percentage
Yes No
110
5.3.2.4.1. Adoption levels of SaaS
The findings indicate that 83.3% of users used SaaS and 16.7% of users did not use SaaS. The findings on the adoption levels of SaaS were discussed in the literature review. Brown and Madden (2012) reported extensively on the adoption and usage of SaaS among SMEs. These findings were also discussed in section of the literature review by Erol et al. (2012) and Tredger (2013) who argued that SMEs were taking into consideration the usage of these readily available services in the cloud for the operation of their business.
There was a need to assess the services used in the adoption of SaaS among cloud computing users. The following figure indicates the adoption of services for SaaS:
Figure 5.7: Adoption of services for SaaS
The findings indicate that 68.0% of users used MS Office 365 Live and 32.0% of users did not use MS Office 365 Live, 60.0% of users used mail services while 40.0% of users did not, 28.0% of users used Google Docs/Freshbooks and 72.0% of users did not use Google Docs/Freshbooks, 28.0% of users used social networking sites and 72.0% of users did not, and 56.0% of users used CRM_ERP_HRM. The frequency table on the services for SaaS is found in appendix 1.
68.0
60.0
28.0 28.0
56.0
32.0
40.0
72.0 72.0
44.0
.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0
MS Office 365 LIve Mail Services Google Docs and Freshbooks
Social Networking Sites
CRM ERP HRM
Percentage
Yes No
111
To see whether there was a significant proportion of the sample who responded yes/no, the binomial test was used. The results showed a significant proportion of the sample indicating that they were using the following services for SaaS: MS Office 365 Live (p=.108), Mail services (p=.424), and CRM_ERP_HRM (p=.690). These findings were discussed in the literature review.
The analysis indicated that MS Office 365 Live, mail services, as well as the CRM_ERP_HRM were considerably used by cloud computing users. The Microsoft report 2012 considered MS Office 365 Live as the first step toward the adoption and usage of cloud computing. Arpaci et al. (2012) reported that the adoption and usage of services such as ERP and CRM was more dependent on the technological changes and needs required in the organisation. In addition, Arpaci et al. (2012) reported that the level of technology know-how and awareness could assist in implementing and maximising the usage of the technology adoption.
5.3.2.4.2. Adoption levels of IaaS
The findings indicate that 30.0% of users used IaaS and 70.0% of users did not use IaaS. Despite the fact that the results indicated a negligible adoption level of IaaS by SMEs, these findings were discussed in the literature review. As discussed by Avram (2014), the adoption and usage of IaaS was considered to be lower as compared to SaaS.
Awa et al. (2012) reported about the adoption and usage of cloud services, which should be dependent on the level of technological change and business transformation. In addition, Avram (2014) reported that organisations moved to IaaS once they were familiar with the usage of SaaS. He explained that depending on the level of transformational needs required, other services could be adopted in the process. Tredger (2013) reported that IT SMEs in Gauteng were using at some extent IaaS, though the usage was still at a very low level as compared to the rest of the developed world.
There was a need to assess the services used in the adoption of IaaS among cloud computing users. The following figure indicates the usage of services for IaaS:
112 Figure 5.8: Adoption of services for IaaS
The findings indicate that 88.0% of users used Dropbox and 11.1% of users did not use Dropbox, 22.2%
of users used Amazon EC2 and 77.8% did not, 55.6 % of users used Google Drive and 44.4% did not use Google Drive, 33.3% of users used Microsoft SkyDrive and 66.7% of users did not use Microsoft SkyDrive, and 11.1% of users used IBM Blue cloud and 88.9% of users did not use Microsoft SkyDrive.
The findings indicate that Dropbox as a service was highly used in IaaS as compared to other services.
These findings were supported in the literature review. Avram (2014) reported that SMEs tended to adopt this service in IaaS after they had become very much aware with the usage of SaaS. Tredger (2013) reported that the usage of services for IaaS was sometimes used together with SaaS as the needs arise in the organisation. To see whether there was a significant proportion of the sample who responded yes/no, the binomial test was used. The results showed a significant proportion of the sample indicating that they were using Dropbox (p=.039). These findings were also discussed in the literature.
5.3.2.4.3. Adoption levels of PaaS
The findings indicate that 36.7% of users used PaaS and 63.3% of users did not use PaaS. The findings show that PaaS was used by a small portion of the users. As discussed in this literature, the adoption and usage of PaaS was considered when real investments were made in regard to SaaS and a real transformation need was required in the organisation (Brown and Madden, 2012). In addition, Avram (2014) reported that the adoption and usage of PaaS seemed to be the last step in the adoption process especially when SMEs had made use of either SaaS or IaaS.
88.9
22.2
55.6
33.3
11.1 11.1
77.8
44.4
66.7
88.9
.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0
Dropbox Amazon EC2 Google Drive Microsoft SkyDrive
IBM Blue Cloud
Percentage
Yes No
113
There was a need to assess the services used in the adoption of PaaS among cloud computing users. The following figure indicates the adoption of services for PaaS:
Figure 5.9: Adoption of services for PaaS
The findings indicate that 90.9% of users used Windows Azure and 9.1% of users did not use Windows Azure, 100% of users used Google Apps Engine, 63.6% of users used Cloud Foundry, 36.4% of users used Cloud Control and 63.6% of users did not use Cloud Control, and 27.3% of users used Wave Maker while 72.7% of users did not use Wave Maker.
To see whether there was a significant proportion of the sample who responded yes/no, the binomial test was used. The results showed a significant proportion of the sample indicating that they were using the following services for PaaS: Windows Azure (p=.012) and Google Apps Engine (p=.001). The findings indicated that despite the fact that the adoption level of PaaS was very low, services such as Windows Azure and Google Apps Engine were used by users. These findings were supported in the literature.
Brown and Madden (2012) reported that the global perception shows a lower adoption and usage level of PaaS. Brown and Madden (2012) have, however, acknowledged a paradigm shift in the usage of services for PaaS. Supporting the claim, Avram (2014) reported that it was only when enough investments were made that organisations considered using PaaS.
90.9
100.0
63.6
36.4
27.3 9.1
36.4
63.6
72.7
.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0
Windows Azure Google Apps Engine
Cloud Foundry Cloud Control Wave Maker
Percentage
Yes No
114
5.3.2.4.4. Adoption levels of XaaS
The findings indicate that 40.0% of users used XaaS and 60.0% of users did not use XaaS. The findings indicate that the adoption of XaaS was lower as compared to other services i.e. SaaS, IaaS, as well as PaaS. Matuszak and Lamoureux (2013) reported that companies consider to use XaaS when there was a need for a major upgrade or transformation required. In addition, they explained that since XaaS was so customised, organisations decided to use or adopt these services only when there was a real need for change in the operation and execution of their business processes.
There was a need to assess the services used in the adoption of XaaS among cloud computing users. The services included in this section were namely, SecaaS: Security-as-a-Service, BPaaS: Business Process- as-a-Service, DBaaS: Database-as-a-Service, ITaaS: Information Technology-as-a-Service, and DRaaS:
Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service.
The following figure indicates the adoption of services for XaaS:
Figure 5.10: Adoption of services for XaaS
The findings indicate that 66.7% of users used SecaaS and 33.3% of users did not use SecaaS, 66.7% of users used BPaaS and 33.3% of users did not use BPaaS, 75.0% of users used DBaaS and 25.0% of users did not use DBaaS, 83.3% of users used BaaS and 16.7% of users did not use BaaS, and 83.3% of users used ITaaS and 16.7% did not use ITaaS.
To see whether there was a significant proportion of the sample who responded yes/no, the binomial test was used. The results showed a significant proportion of the sample indicating that they were using the following service for XaaS: BaaS (p=.039), ITaaS (p=.039), as well as DRaaS (p=.039). These findings
66.7 66.7
75.0
83.3 83.3 83.3
33.3 33.3
25.0
16.7 16.7 16.7
.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0
SecaaS BPaaS DBaaS BaaS ITaaS DRaaS
Percentage
Yes No
115
were discussed in the literature review. Matuszak and Lamoureux (2013) explained that organisations were interested in using variants of cloud services when more transformation or changes were expected or required in the organisation. Tredger (2013) reported that organisations in Gauteng were interested in using services in XaaS when there was a real need for change in the operation, execution and management of business processes.
After commenting on all the services used in cloud computing by users, there was a need to establish whether there was a significant proportion of the sample who responded yes/no for any of the services.
A binomial test was used in this regard. The results showed a significant proportion of the sample indicating that they were using the following services: SaaS (p=<.005) and IaaS (p=.005). These findings were supported in the literature review. Avram (2014), Brown and Madden (2012), and The Microsoft report (2012) supported these findings. They reported that the first step toward cloud computing adoption and usage was SaaS followed by IaaS.